Chapter 40: Shen Xiyao, the Shen Family’s Eldest Daughter

When the evening gown was delivered to her home, Jiang Mian was busy cooking in the kitchen.

She wiped her hands and hurried to the door. The property management staffer standing outside handed her a gift box with a bright smile: "Ms. Jiang, here is your package."

It was difficult for outsiders to enter the residential complex, so before the dress was delivered, she had contacted the property office, explaining that she was expecting a delivery and hoping they could bring it up to her floor.

After taking the box, she thanked the staffer. Only after watching him turn and leave did she close the door and carry the box to the sofa in the living room.

She wasn't in a rush to open it; she simply set it on the coffee table. She trusted her designer friend implicitly and felt confident there wouldn't be any issues, so she decided she would try it on a little later.

While she was eating, her phone began to buzz incessantly with incoming messages. Shen Xiyao, even while on the plane, couldn't sit still and kept pinging her.

"Mianmian~ Mianbao! I’ll definitely be able to see you the moment I exit the airport this afternoon, right?"

By rights, as the eldest daughter of the Shen family, she should have had people sent by her family to pick her up upon her return to the country. Instead, the girl had flatly refused, insisting that Jiang Mian would be the one to fetch her and that no one else was needed.

Well, she couldn't help it; one had to spoil one’s best friend.

"Don't worry, it is my honor to welcome our Princess Xiyao home. I will be there on time, I promise!"

After she gave her word repeatedly, Shen Xiyao finally sent over a smug-looking sticker.

Thinking back, the two of them had known each other for many years. Jiang Mian first met Shen Xiyao at her younger brother’s first-birthday banquet. At the time, they were both only five years old, and as little girls doted upon by their families, they naturally gravitated toward each other. While everyone else's attention was focused on the baby, Jiang Mian was the only one who brought a gift not just for the birthday boy, but for Shen Xiyao as well.

Friendships between young girls develop quickly; they soon became best friends and made a pact to play together again soon. Back then, Jiang Mian's parents were steering the Jiang Group toward its peak, so there was frequent interaction with the Shen family. As parents were generally pleased to see their daughters becoming close, there were no obstacles to their constant playdates.

As they grew older, their paths diverged, leading to some time apart, yet their bond remained harmonious. It wasn't until after high school graduation that Shen Xiyao announced her plan to study abroad, leading to many years of separation. Even now, she had no concrete plans to return to the country permanently.

The reason for Shen Xiyao’s insistence on studying abroad was known to Jiang Mian, but as her friend, she respected every decision Shen Xiyao made.

In the afternoon, Jiang Mian drove to the airport. To ensure she wouldn't be missed by that girl, she parked in the spacious lane right in front of the terminal and leaned against her car to wait. The airport wasn't particularly crowded that day. Jiang Mian spent some time with her head bowed, scrolling through her phone, and when she judged the time was right, she tucked it away.

In the backseat lay a bouquet of pink roses, with a pearl chain wound around the stems and a tie-dyed blue card tucked inside. She retrieved the bouquet and waited by the car.

A young woman emerged from the airport wearing a pale pink dress. She lifted her sunglasses from the bridge of her nose and took a deep, refreshing breath of the air.

"Shen Xiyao!" Jiang Mian called out, waving her hand.

"Ahhhhh! Mianbao!" Ignoring the high heels she was wearing, Shen Xiyao dragged her suitcase over at a run and threw herself into Jiang Mian’s arms.

Jiang Mian shifted the flowers to the side and steadied Shen Xiyao by the waist to ensure she didn't lose her footing.

"Wuwuwu, Mianbao, you are just too good! I love you to death!"

Shen Xiyao took the flowers, rubbed her face against Jiang Mian’s shoulder, and looked at her with teary eyes. Jiang Mian gently pushed her away; this was a public place, after all—what would it look like if she started crying?

She glanced at Shen Xiyao's suitcase; it wasn't large, just a twenty-inch carry-on. "Let me put your suitcase away first." With that, she hauled the luggage into the trunk and slammed it shut.

Once they were in the car, Shen Xiyao sat in the passenger seat, cradling the flowers. Jiang Mian rolled down the window, letting the breeze rush in and blow the hair at her temples backward.

"It’s been a long time."

The last time Shen Xiyao had returned was probably during the Spring Festival, and that trip had been rushed; she had left the very day after Lunar New Year’s Eve, not even having had the chance to say goodbye to Jiang Mian.

In truth, the scenery in the capital wasn't all that different from what one might find abroad. But there was something about the local customs and atmosphere—the moment your feet touched this soil, you felt an extraordinary sense of warmth.

Shen Xiyao sighed and leaned back against the headrest. "Mianbao, what are you planning to take me to eat?"

"Didn't you say you missed the vinegar fish at Linjiang Teahouse? I've booked a small private room there; we can eat as soon as we arrive."

"I'm so touched!" The girl in the passenger seat turned her head, eyes brimming with tears, her lips pressed tightly together.

Heaven knows what kind of unpalatable things she had been eating abroad. If not for the various delicacies sent from home, she might have actually withered away.

The Shen family, fearing she would be mistreated abroad, had even hired a domestic chef to cook for her. Although the chef made common dishes, they always lacked that certain something compared to the dishes back home.

"Mianbao, I’m not joking—I think I could eat ten plates of vinegar fish today!"

The vinegar fish at Linjiang Teahouse was famous, attracting many tourists from out of town. Despite the name, it wasn't actually sour, but rather a sweet and spicy dish, completely bone-free, and highly acclaimed by food lovers.

They parked in a nearby lot and got out. The roses were left in the car for now, as Jiang Mian would be taking her to the Shen residence later. Shen Xiyao had her own villa and apartment, which the Shen family kept regularly cleaned, but since it was her first day back, she needed to make an appearance at home to avoid any gossip.

Once inside the teahouse, the waiter recognized Jiang Mian and led them to their table immediately. The lighting in the private room was soft, and the temperature was perfectly adjusted.

After a cup of hot tea, Shen Xiyao felt her appetite truly stir. Jiang Mian poured herself a cup, took a gentle sip, and looked at the person sitting across from her. Her phone was lying on the table, the screen lighting up as if a message had just arrived.

"Hasn't your brother been nagging you today?"

Shen Xiyao's younger brother, Shen Yize, could be considered a total sister-complex. When Shen Xiyao had first announced her plan to study abroad, thirteen-year-old Shen Yize had nearly cried himself into a faint. She had ended up sneaking out with her suitcase while he was asleep.

Jiang Mian still remembered that the day she had seen Shen Xiyao off and returned home, she had been cornered at her own front door by a red-eyed Shen Yize. The young boy had been so angry he could barely speak, trembling as he pointed a finger at her.

"Jiang Mian, you’re bad too! My sister is leaving and you didn't even try to keep her!"

"From now on, I hate you!"